Shedding device for weaving machines

ABSTRACT

The shedding device for weaving machines whose warp threads guided in heddles between an upper shed position and a lower shed position are moved back and forth, whereby tension springs that move axially in a surrounding casing grip each heddle to return them to the lower shed position, and the tension springs are attached to a downward-pulling base or rod of a downward-pulling frame. The shedding device is characterized in that a device to prevent dust and fluff from collecting an the return spring is an the face of the sleeve that moves axially relative to the affected heddles.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

[0001] This application claims the priority of Swiss Application No. 2000 0399/00 filed Mar. 1, 2000, which is incorporated herein by reference.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0002] This invention relates to a shedding device for weaving machines whose warp threads guided in heddles between an upper shed position and a lower shed position are moved back and forth, whereby tension springs to return the heddles to the lower shed position move axially in a surrounding casing and grip each heddle, and the tension springs are attached to a downward-pulling base or rod of a downward-pulling frame.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0003] Relevant shedding devices include so-called Jacquard machines in which the bottom end of two hooks are connected via a common pulley, whereby the hooks can be coupled to two stroke measuring devices that continuously move in the opposite direction depending upon the means of control, e.g. by magnetic means, whereby the heddles e.g. suspended an the pulley and hence the relevant warp threads are provided with a controlled stroke movement between the top shed position and bottom shed position. To return the heddles into the bottom shed position, a tension spring grips each heddle that is attached to a downwardpulling base or downward-pulling rods of a downwardpulling frame.

[0004] A familiar problem with such machines is the accumulation of dust and fluff an the return springs which can quickly cause problems and requires long machine downtimes to eliminate the problem. It has been attempted to solve the problem by surrounding the tension springs gripping the heddles with a sleeve in which the relevant return springs move in an axial direction; however, this cannot prevent dust and fluff from penetrating the sleeves from the open face which clogs the return spring. The caps that are used in this context are also ineffective.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0005] The problem of the present invention is therefore to create a system that effectively prevents the collection of dust and fluff an the return springs to essentially eliminate downtime arising from such problems.

[0006] This is attained according to the Invention by placing a device to prevent dust and fluff from collecting an the return spring an the face of the sleeve that move axially relative to the affected heddles.

[0007] Preferably, the device to prevent dust and fluff from collecting an the return springs can be a hermetically sealing lip seal surrounding the relevant heddle and/or hook or connecting means that sits tightly an the face of the sleeve.

[0008] It is advantageous for the lip real to be exchangeable in a cage an the face of the sleeve or directly insertable in the cage. The lip seal acts as a dust or fluff remover an the heddle and/or hook or connecting means.

[0009] It is preferable for the lip seal to be a micro-lip ring seal.

[0010] These measures provide an optimum means for keeping the return springs clean with a relatively simple construction, and also prevent existing shedding devices of the cited kind to be retrofitted as desired independent of the fixed connection between the heddle or hook or connecting means and sleeve an the warp side or downward-pulling base side. The lip seal lies an the face where the sleeve moves axially relative to the affected heddle.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0011] Exemplary embodiments of the subject matter of the invention will are explained below in closer detail by reference to the enclosed drawing, wherein:

[0012]FIG. 1 shows a schematically illustrated section of a shedding device for weaving machinery partially in the form of a diagram;

[0013]FIG. 2 shows an enlarged heddle arrangement with a fixed connection an the downward-pulling base side and warp side between the hook or heddle and sleeve from the arrangement in FIG. 1; and

[0014]FIG. 3 an enlarged section of the device according to the Invention to prevent dust and fluff collection an the return spring in the form of a lip seal surrounding the relevant heddle and contacting it that is tightly fixed to the relevant face of the sleeve.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0015] The shedding device for weaving machinery according to FIG. 1 is an open-shed Jacquard machine in which the bottom ends of two hooks 1 and 2 are connected via a common pulley, 3 whereby the hooks can be coupled to two stroke measuring devices 5, 6 that continuously move in the opposite direction depending upon the means of control (here magnetic means 4), whereby the heddle 7 suspended an the pulley and hence the relevant warp threads 8 are provided with a controlled stroke movement between the top shed position (left side, FIG. 1) and bottom shed position (right side).

[0016] Such shedding devices for weaving machines are prior art, although there are numerous other systems for moving the heddles with the warp threads to form sheds.

[0017] A common element of a number of such prior-art shedding devices is that a tension spring 9 is attached to the heddle directly or via a hook or other connecting means to return the heddle 7 into the lower shed position. The tension spring is fixed to a downwardpulling base 10 or to downward-pulling rods of a downward-pulling frame (not shown).

[0018] In addition, there exists a prior-art embodiment in which each tension spring 9 attached to a heddle 7 is surrounded by a sleeve in 11 in which the relevant tension spring moves in an axial direction (FIG. 2).

[0019] According to the Invention, there is a device 13 an the face of the sleeve 11 to prevent dust and fluff from collecting an the tension spring 9 (FIG. 3) that moves in an axial direction relative to the affected heddle 7.

[0020] Depending an whether there is a warp-side 8′ or downward-pulling base side 10′ fixed connection 12 between the heddle 7 or hook 7′, etc. and sleeve 11, the device 13 to prevent dust and flüff from collecting is an the face where the sleeve 11 moves in an axial direction relative to the affected heddle 7.

[0021] As shown in greater detail in FIG. 3, the device 13 to prevent dust and fluff formation an the return spring is a seal surrounding and hermetically sealing the relevant heddle 7 or hook or connecting means that is tightly fixed to the relevant face of the sleeve. The lip seal an the heddle and/or hook or connecting means acts as a dust and fluff remover.

[0022] The lips seal 14 is preferably exchangeable in a cage 17 an the face of the sleeve 11. The face of the cage has a ring shoulder 16 that looks like an expandingring-like projection 18 an the body of the lips seal.

[0023] Such a return device an a shedding device is practically problemfree and wear-free since the measures according to invention provide an optimum method for keeping the return springs clean.

[0024] Of course variations of the design are possible within the framework of the inventive idea. For example, a device according to Invention to prevent the collection of dust and fluff an the return spring can also be an both faces of the relevant sleeve. In addition, the lips seal can preferably be a micro-lip ring seal that preferably consists of polyurethane, etc. which can be directly an the face of the sleeve without a cage. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A shedding device for weaving machines whose warp threads guided in heddles between an upper shed position and a lower shed position are moved back and forth, whereby tension springs that move axially in a surrounding casing grip each heddle to return them to the lower shed position, and the tension springs are attached to a downward-pulling base or rod of a downward-pulling frame, comprising: a device to prevent dust and fluff from collecting an the return spring is an the face of the sleeve that move axially relative to the affected heddles.
 2. The shedding device according to claim 1 , whereby the device to prevent dust and fluff from collecting an the return springs is a hermetically-sealing lip seal surrounding the relevant heddle and/or hook or connecting means that sits tightly an the face of the relevant sleeve.
 3. The shedding device according to claim 2 , wherein the lip seal is exchangeably inserted in a cage an the face of the sleeve.
 4. The shedding device according to claim 2 , wherein the lips seal is inserted in the face of the sleeve.
 5. The shedding device according to claim 2 , wherein the lip seal an the heddle and/or hook or connecting means acts as a dust and fluff remover.
 6. The shedding device according to claim 2 , wherein the lips seal is a micro-lip ring seal. 